Folding box.



L. GOTTSCHALL.

FOLDING BOX. APPLICA TIO N FILED MAY HI I917- Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

LIONEL GOTTSGHALL, 0F DAYTON, O I

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Application filed May 14, 1917. Serial No. 168,532.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL Go'r'rspHALL, citizen of the United States,residlng at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible or folding receptacles.

The object of the invention is to improve the structure as well as themeans and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not onlybe cheapened in constructlon, but will be more eflicient in use,positlve 1n operation, secure and safe, and unlikely to get out ofrepair. .1

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a container orbox which may be folded or collapsed to a compact and convenient formfor storage when not in use, or for shipping when empty.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forinterlocking the yielding or relatively movable sections to secure thestructure in upright or erected position.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved form of lockingmeans for the movable bottom section which will insure the maintenanceof the structure in upright or erected position so long as the top orcover is closed, and to further provide interlocking joints between thebottom, top and the side sections, tending to maintain such parts inadjusted position, and to further arrange the side portions that theymay readily enter the interlocking joints orgrooves of the top andbottom sections.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the,features of construction the parts, and combinations thereof, and themode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and setforth in the claims. I

eferring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembledcontainer or box withthe top or lid open and one side partly broken awayto disclose the internal locking features of the bottom section. Fig.

2 is a perspective view of the box or container partly collapsed. Figs.3 and 4 are detail views of the interlocking joints between the sidesections and the top and bottom sections. Fig. '5 is a detail sideelevation. a I

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The collapsible container or box forming the subject matter hereof isparticularly adapted for use as a ballot box. The collapsible featureenables it to be stored in small space during the periods of non-use.Also it may be used as a shipping box or container which may be foldedcompactly into a small compass for return shipment, but which whenerected will be sufficiently durable and strong to withstand hard usageincident to freight and express shipment. It will be understood that thebox or recepticle may be formed in any desired size or proportion.

Referring to the drawings the collapsible receptacle forming the subjectmatter hereof comprises front and rear wall sections 1 and 9 to whichare hinged at each vertical edge side sections, by hinge joints 6 and 7.Each side comprises iiwo sections or leaves 3 and 4 hinged one to theother by a medially disposed vertical hinged joint 5. The vertical hingejoints 6 and 7 connecting the side portions or leaves 3 and 4 withthefront and rear wall sections 1 and 2 respectively are so arrangedthat the leaves or portions 3 and 4 are foldable inward, as indicated inFig. 2, to parallelism one with the other, and with the front and rearWall sections 1 and 2. The top section 8 is joined to the upperhorizontal edge of the rear wall section 2,'by a hinged joint 9 whilethe bottom section is similarly. joined to the lower horizontal edge ofthe front wall section'l by ahinge joint 11 The hinge joints 9 and 11are so constructed and arranged that the top and bottom sections arefoldable outwardly to parallelism with the wallsections 1 and 2 andagainst the outer sides thereof. Both the top and bottom sec tions 8 and10 are provide about their marginal free edges with par llel flanges 12i and 13 forming a groove or channel 14 in- "uniform appearance, thedouble-flanged I single sheets of material.

.marg'insrare preferably formed integrally .Withthe icover iandbottomsectlons from i To perform the several bending operations in thesequence .in Jvhich. they occur is ,a 5 somewhat difficult :mechanical-,-f.eat. fllhere :is illustrated Fig. 4 a very simple and convenientmethod of" storming the .double flanged marginal '[construction Withminimum operations, and which Will result in uniform production. Togthisend ,the marginal portion of the coyeror bottom section .indicated at Sis over-lapped vupon itself to parallelism a dis- .tance e qlual v tothe combined .height of the tivo flanges and the vWidth of :intervenmgspace. {Ihesinner or freeedge 15 is then bentupwardperpendicular to theplane of the section by us'eofatinners break or other tool performinglike operations, thereby forming the inner .marginal .fla'n-g'e 13. Theouter doubled edge orbight 16 1s thenbentin like manneralong ailinespaced from the inner upper edge or flange .13 by aljke operation, toform the outer vmarginal flange12.

"In order ,thatthe edges of g-the side-seotio n fsinay readily enter andfollow into the grooves orchannels 14,,of (the top and bottom sectionsjthe ,terminal hinge knuckles of the joints ,5 and ,7 are integral .Withthe sideportio'ns ,or sections 3 and 4 respectively. this means theportion of the side' section 4 adjacentio the hinged joint jivhichListhe portion first extended Within thelmarginal grooveor channel 10f.the top la id bet p as etionsii he rigidly i n ten i ente s i r ov QIQQ S during i3 6 lQSi QmQYQH Mzq the over and botttm .sc ic nslftheQPPQ i {edge o t sectipn ijorthat edgeadjacenttqthe medial hinge j 5 isEbent laterally or accidentally t' royvnout oflinesucndeyiation isimmateri z l iiiasrnuehlas the initial corner of the section having beenrigidlyaheld ,aa n ed Within th gr Qv o han the g n gral l terminalhinge knuckle ,18, the re naini ng pgrtion ,of the side vjseet-ion Willbe autematically into the channel e sev re aia wi h hin kmw l l ofitsnormal plane. construction comprising formmg the terminal hinge knuckleintegral With the s de 7 formed integral with the side section at theend of the medial hinge joint 5, rig dly holds the initial corner of theslde section 3 in positionto enter Within the groove or channel of thecover or bottom sectlon, While the final corner of such side sectionWill be automatically led into the channel even'though it may be bent ordeflected out lVhile this feature of sectionatthe initial corner inrelation With the direction of engagement of the side secbeing gainedthrough the bottom xvhenfthe 2 top section is locked there is provideda'lock- .mg lineans for thebotto'm' section so' constructed and arrangedthat it c'ann'otbeeome .disengagednor'be released solong as the topsection is closed. -To lock'the'jbottom section inits adjusted positionthere is pro vided a bight or bail of wire 19 hinged at 20 to the innerside of the bottomseeti'onadja cent to its marginal flange. Thisbight orball is adapted to be turned upivard'to a .position parallel Witha'ndagainst' the inner side of the rear Wall section 2; Where it eX-"tends above a socket or keeper 21 attached to the inner side ofthe rearWall section 2.

Reciprocating Within si i'itable "guides or keepers 22 secured to theinner 's'ide of the Wall section 2 is a reciprocatory bolt 23 't helower or inner end of Which is adapted to extend over the bight' orbail19 and engage within-th'e keeper or socket portion 21, therebylocking-the bight orkeeperin itsadjusted position: The locking bolt 23is of such length that when inits'depres'sed or locked position itsupper end Will extend tiallylevel With the top of the boxorcontainer andwhen unlocked the bblt'f23 extends above the top of the container andinto the path of thecov'er se'ctio'n l The construction "is such thatthebolt or looking member 23 must I necessarily be depressed to lockingposition before the e ver sections may be-iclos'edi The releasingmovement of the bolt 28 is prevented by the cover section 8 so longasthe coveris closed. This'in'sures thegproper interlocking of the-boxorrec'ep- :t'acle bottom "in closed or adjusted position before ithe'topsec-tion Smaybe closed. It

thereby prevents oversight or accidental re? lease of the bottom.Likewise it prevents the intentional opening of the bottom section byunauthorized persons or those who have not the necessary key to unlockthe top section.

The top or cover section 8 is adapted to be secured in its closed orlocked position by any suitable or convenient form of lock.

IIowever in the drawings there has been shown a simple form of hasp 24,hinged to the top or cover section 8 at its forward or free edge andadapted to be engaged over loop or keeper 25 pivoted to the frontsection 1 of the box, in depression or recess 26. The loop or keeper 25is so arranged that it may be folded flatly to a position well withinthe recess or depression, where it will in no way interfere with thefolding of the bottom section and the front wall section 1 toparallelism. The cover may be secured by an ordinary form of padlockintroduced through the loop or keeper 25 over the hasp 24. The mode offolding or collapsing the receptacle will be clear by an examination ofFig. 2. After disengaging the double flanged margins of the top andbottom sections from the sides, the side portions or leaves 3 and 4 arefolded inward intermediate the front and rear wall sections 1 and 2. Thecover section 8 is folded rearwardly and downwardly to parallelism withthe rear wall 2, the hasp 24 having been first folded to a positionparallel with the cover 8,

whereby it will extend intermediate the cover section 8 and the rearwall 2 when the box is in final collapsed position. The loop or keeper25 is folded flatly into the recess or pocket 26 and the bight or bail19 is folded about its hinge connections 20 to a position parallel withthe inner side of the bottom section 10. The locking bolt or plunger 28is pushed inward to avoid interference with external objects. Theupperend of the bolt 23 is offset or bent laterally as at 27 to form alimiting stop and also to facilitate the withdrawal of the bolt.Likewise a stop lug is provided to limit the outward movement of thelocking bolt. When folded as heretofore described the structure presentsno extension of parts projecting beyond the marginal lines of the foldedbody as the structure is thus contained within a compass or areasubstantially equal to a single side or cover section.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a collapsiblebox of the character described, top, bottom and side wall sectionshinged one to another and foldable to parallelism, a locking bailcarried by the bottom section and extendin within the structure whenerected, a locking bolt carried by one of the side sections and adaptedto be engaged with the bail to hold the bottom in adjusted position,said locking bolt being adapted to extend into the path of the topsection when in disengaged position whereby said locking bolt must bemoved to looking position before the top section may be closed and willbe retained in locked position by said top section.

2. In a collapsible box of the character described, top, bottom and sidesections hinged one to another and foldable to parallelism, a lockingarm carried by the bottom section, and extending within the box whenerected, a projection carried by one of the side sections engaged by thearm, and a detent within the box adapted to lock the arm in engagementwith the projection, substantially as specified.

3. In a collapsible box of the character described, top, bottom and sidesections hinged one to another and foldable to parallelism, doublemarginal flanges on the top and bottom sections intermediate which theedges of the side sections project, and an integral hinge knuckle at thecorner of each side section which initially engages in the grooveintermediate the marginal flanges of the top and bottom sections.

4. In a collapsible box, a plurality of side sections hinged one toanother, a bottom sec tion. a flanged cover section, hinged to a sidesection, and integral hinge knuckles located at the corners of the sidesections nearest to the hinge connection of the flanged cover.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of May A.D. 1917.

LIONEL GOTTSOHALL/ Witnesses:

D. F. GoT'rsoHALL, 1 i E. E. DUNCAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G.

